Gemotions

The chipped mug warmed Amelia's hands, but did little to thaw the chill that had settled in her bones. She sat at the kitchen table, the only light source the flickering glow of the television screen. Empty pizza boxes from dinner sat abandoned on the counter. Her parents were asleep upstairs, their gentle snores a constant backdrop to the silence. She’d always envisioned this house as a hub of activity, not a mausoleum.

She scrolled through social media, a curated feed of smiling faces and vibrant lives. Each post felt like a punch to the gut. She'd moved back in a month ago, thinking it would be a temporary pit stop. Now, the thought of returning to her apartment filled her with a dread she couldn't explain.

A sigh escaped her lips as she leaned back in the chair. Her gaze drifted to the framed family photo on the wall, her younger self beaming between her parents. She felt a profound separation from that girl.